（《纲目》）
【释名】时珍曰∶蛇字古作它，俗作
其行委佗，故名。岭南人食之，或呼为讹，或呼为茅鳝。按∶《山海经》云∶海外西南人以
虫为蛇，号蛇为鱼。则自古已然矣。
【集解】时珍曰∶蛇类琐语，不可类从者，萃族于
文象形，居南方）。在卦
在物为毒虫（出《说文》）。
黑、金、翠、斑、花诸色（见各条）。毒虫也，而有无毒者
有
生毛者（蝮蛇纹间有毛。
。腹行也，而有四足者。（鳞蛇、千岁蝮、苟印、蜥蜴皆有足）。
有冠，最毒）、角者（三角蛇有
肥KT ）、飞者（《山海经》云∶柴桑多飞蛇。《荀子》云
经》云∶肃慎国有琴蛇，兽首蛇身）、人面者（《江湖
害人。惟畏蜈蚣）、两首者
首
两身，见则大旱。《管子》曰∶涸水之精，名曰
取鱼鳖）、歧尾者（《广志》
水后而食之
文
仲云∶舵蛇，形似舵，长七、八尺，
又有青 （即竹根蛇）、白
蛇
甚多，四、五月
反钩、三角之
亦来取之。惟百里外乃免耳）。蛇出以春，出则食物（蛇
冬，蛰则含土。（至春吐出，即蛇黄石
巳为蛇，故蛇双舌
南子》）。
段成式云∶蛇怒时，毒在头尾）。其珠在口（陆佃云∶龙珠在
喜
投暗。见人张口，吐气如烬）。其行也纡，
皮数解蜕（《变化论》云∶龙易骨，蛇易皮）。性晓方药（出
父
见蛇被伤，一蛇衔草敷之，遂去。其人采草治疮，名曰蛇
即退出也。段成式云∶人见蛇交，三
蜃及
异记》云∶江淮中有兽名能，乃蛇精所化也。冬则为雉，春复为
雅》云∶大腰纯雌，以蛇为雄。蛇求于
也）。又与鳢、鳝通气
鹊见蛇则噪而奔，孔见蛇则喜而跃）。竹化蛇，蛇
见一竹，中央已成蛇形，而枝叶如故。又桐庐民伐竹，见蛇化雉，头项已就，身犹蛇也。乃
知竹化蛇，蛇化雉）。 怜
（神
蛇能乘云
目圆（出《述异记》。大蛇
蛇吞鹿（详本条），玄蛇吞麈（大鹿也。出《山海
中，波斯国献之。状同鼠
鼠
曰∶尝见一乌蛇，长丈余。有鼠野狼啮蛇头，曳之而去，亦相畏伏耳）。
田父（《洽闻记》云∶蛤蟆大者名田父，见蛇则衔其
已尽矣）。蛇令豹止，而有食蛇之貘（《
及铁）。龟蛇同气，而有呷蛇
也
）， 蛆甘带（出《庄子》。
啖其脑、眼。蟾蜍食 蛆， 蛆食蛇，蛇食蟾蜍
蛇即张口，乃入其腹食之）。鸩步则蛇出，
石自转，取蛇食之，蛇入口即
食蛇者也（蛇鹰、蛇鹘。余见本条）；虎、猴、麂、麝、牛，皆兽之食蛇者也（ 猴食蛇。
牛食蛇，则独肝有毒）。蛇所食之虫，则蛙、鼠、燕、雀、蝙蝠、鸟雏。所食之草，则芹、
茄、石南、茱萸、蛇粟（ 子也）。所憎之物，则 荷、 、蛇网草、鹅粪；
则
雄黄、雌黄、 羊角、蜈蚣（《千金》云∶入山佩武都雄黄、雌黄，或烧 羊角烟，或筒
盛蜈蚣，则蛇不敢近）。误触莴菜，则目不见物（出《
出（藏器曰∶蛇有足，见之不佳
令热，以酒沃之，置蛇于上则足见）。蛇蟠人足，淋以热尿，或沃以热汤，则自解；蛇入人
窍，灸以艾炷，或辣以椒末，则自出（以艾炷灸蛇尾，或割破蛇尾，塞以椒末，即出）。内
解
蛇毒之药，则雄黄、贝母、大蒜、薤白、苍耳；外治蛇 之药，则大青、鹤虱
射罔、姜黄、干姜、白矾、黑豆叶、黄荆叶、蛇含草、犬粪、鹅粪、蔡苴机
（《本草纲目》）
【释名】李时珍说：蛇字古时候写作“它”，俗体字写法各异。因为它行走时身体弯曲盘绕，所以得名。岭南地区的人食用它，有的称它为“讹”，有的称它为“茅鳝”。据考证：《山海经》记载：海外西南地方的人把虫称为蛇，把蛇称为鱼。这说明自古以来就是这样了。
【集解】李时珍说：关于蛇类的琐碎记载很多，不能简单归类。从文字象形来看，“它”字像蛇的形状，位于南方八卦中的位置。在万物中属于毒虫（出自《说文解字》）。有黑、金、翠、斑、花等各种颜色（详见各条目）。虽然是毒虫，但也有无毒的；有长毛的（蝮蛇花纹间长有毛）。虽然腹部爬行，但也有长四足的（鳞蛇、千岁蝮、苟印、蜥蜴都有脚）。有长冠的（最毒）、有角的（三角蛇有角）、能飞的（《山海经》说：柴桑多飞蛇。《荀子》说：《山海经》记载肃慎国有琴蛇，兽头蛇身）、有人脸的（《江湖异记》说：见人张口，吐气如灰烬）、有两头的（两首两身，出现则预示大旱。《管子》说：干涸水泽的精气，名叫……用来取鱼鳖）、尾巴分叉的（《广志》记载：仲云说：舵蛇，形状像船舵，长七八尺，还有很多青色的（即竹根蛇）、白色的蛇，数量极多，四五月间出来捕捉它们。只有百里之外才能免除被咬的危险）。蛇在春天出来，出来就进食（蛇在冬天蛰伏时口中含土。到了春天吐出，就是蛇黄石）。蛇已经是蛇了，所以舌头是分叉的（出自《南子》）。段成式说：蛇发怒时，毒性集中在头和尾。它的珠在口中（陆佃说：龙珠在口中，喜欢投掷到暗处。见到人张口，吐气像灰烬）。它行走蜿蜒曲折，多次蜕皮（《变化论》说：龙换骨，蛇换皮）。性通晓方药（出自……父亲的故事：看见蛇受伤，另一条蛇衔草敷在上面，然后离开。那人采集这种草治疗疮伤，命名为蛇……即退出也。段成式说：人看见蛇交配，三条……蜃及……异记》说：江淮中有种野兽名叫能，是蛇精所化。冬天变成雉鸡，春天又变回蛇。《诗经·小雅》说：大腰纯雌，以蛇为雄。蛇向它求偶……也）。又与鳢鱼、黄鳝通气……喜鹊看见蛇就噪叫奔跑，孔雀看见蛇就高兴跳跃）。竹子化成蛇，蛇化成雉鸡。看见一根竹子，中间已经形成蛇形，而枝叶依旧。又桐庐百姓砍伐竹子，看见蛇化成雉鸡，头颈已成形，身体还是蛇的样子。才知道竹化蛇，蛇化雉）。蛇能乘云……眼睛圆（出自《述异记》。大蛇吞鹿（详见本条），玄蛇吞麈（大鹿。出自《山海经》，波斯国进献。形状像老鼠……鼠……说：曾经看见一条乌蛇，长一丈多。有野狼咬蛇头，拖着它离开，也是相互畏惧屈服罢了）。老农（《洽闻记》说：大的蛤蟆名叫田父，看见蛇就衔住它的……已经结束了）。蛇令豹停止，而有吃蛇的貘（《……以及铁）。龟和蛇同气，而有吃蛇的……也），蛆甘带（出自《庄子》。……吃它的脑、眼。蟾蜍吃蛆，蛆吃蛇，蛇吃蟾蜍……蛇就张口，让它进入腹中吃掉）。鸩鸟迈步则蛇出来，石头自己转动，取蛇来吃，蛇入口就……吃蛇的动物（蛇鹰、蛇鹘。其余见本条）；虎、猴、麂、麝、牛，都是吃蛇的野兽（猴子吃蛇。牛吃蛇，则独肝有毒）。蛇所吃的昆虫，则有蛙、鼠、燕、雀、蝙蝠、鸟雏。蛇所吃的草，则有芹、茄、石南、茱萸、蛇粟（即蛇子）。蛇憎恶的东西，则有荷、……蛇网草、鹅粪；还有雄黄、雌黄、……羊角、蜈蚣（《千金方》说：进山佩戴武都产的雄黄、雌黄，或者燃烧羊角产生烟雾，或者用筒盛放蜈蚣，那么蛇就不敢靠近）。误触莴菜，就看不见东西（出自……藏器说：蛇有脚，看见了不好……弄热，用酒浇它，把蛇放在上面就能看到脚）。蛇缠绕人的脚，淋上热尿，或者浇上热水，它就自行解开；蛇进入人体孔窍，用艾炷灸治，或者用椒末刺激，它就自行出来（用艾炷灸蛇尾，或者割破蛇尾，塞入椒末，它就出来了）。内服解蛇毒的药物，则有雄黄、贝母、大蒜、薤白、苍耳；外用治疗蛇伤的药物，则有板蓝根、鹤虱、射罔、姜黄、干姜、白矾、黑豆叶、黄荆叶、蛇含草、狗粪、鹅粪、蔡苴机……
(Compendium of Materia Medica)
[Names] Li Shizhen said: The character for snake was anciently written as "Ta" (it), and in vulgar script, various forms exist. Because it moves with a winding and coiling motion, it is named so. People in the Lingnan region eat it, calling it sometimes "E" or sometimes "Mao Shan" (reed eel). According to research: The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* states that people in the southwest overseas regions call insects "snakes" and snakes "fish." This indicates that such usage has existed since ancient times.
[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen said: There are many trivial accounts regarding snakes that cannot be simply categorized. In terms of character etymology, the symbol "Ta" resembles the shape of a snake and is associated with the south in the Bagua (Eight Trigrams). Among creatures, it belongs to venomous insects (from *Shuowen Jiezi*). They appear in black, gold, emerald, spotted, and floral colors (see individual entries). Although they are venomous insects, some are non-venomous; some have hair (the pit viper has hair among its patterns). Although they crawl on their bellies, some have four feet (scales snakes, thousand-year vipers, Gouyin, and lizards all have legs). Some have crests (the most venomous), some have horns (the triangle-headed snake has horns), some can fly (*Classic of Mountains and Seas* says: Fei She [flying snakes] are abundant in Chaishang. *Xunzi* cites *Classic of Mountains and Seas*: In the state of Sushen, there is Qin She [zither snake], with a beast's head and snake's body); some have human faces (*Jianghu Yiji* says: When seeing a person open their mouth, it exhales air like ash); some have two heads (two heads and two bodies; their appearance predicts severe drought. *Guanzi* says: The essence of dried water is named... used to catch fish and turtles); some have forked tails (*Guang Zhi* records: Zhong Yun says: Duo She [rudder snake] resembles a rudder, seven to eight chi long, and there are many green ones (i.e., bamboo root snakes) and white snakes, very numerous, coming out in the fourth and fifth months to capture them. Only those beyond a hundred li are safe from bites). Snakes emerge in spring and feed upon emerging (they hibernate in winter with soil in their mouths. Upon emerging in spring, they expel it, which becomes Snake Huangshi [yellow stone]). Since the snake is already a snake, its tongue is bifid (from *Nanzi*). Duan Chengshi said: When angry, a snake's venom is concentrated in its head and tail. Its pearl is in its mouth (Lu Tian said: The Dragon Pearl is in the mouth, fond of throwing into dark places. Seeing a person open their mouth, it exhales air like ash). It moves in a winding manner and sheds its skin multiple times (*Bianhua Lun* says: Dragons change bones, snakes change skins). Its nature understands herbal medicine (from the story of the father: Seeing a snake injured, another snake brought grass to apply to the wound, then left. That person collected this grass to treat sores, naming it Snake... i.e., retreats. Duan Chengshi said: When humans see snakes mating, three... Zhen and... *Yiji* says: In the Jianghuai region, there is a beast named Neng, transformed from a snake spirit. In winter it becomes a pheasant, and in spring returns to being a snake. *Book of Songs · Xiao Ya* says: Large waist purely female, taking the snake as male. The snake seeks it... also). It also shares qi with snakeheads and eels... Magpies cry and flee when seeing snakes; peacocks jump joyfully when seeing snakes). Bamboo transforms into snakes, and snakes transform into pheasants. Seeing a single bamboo stalk, the center has already formed a snake shape, while branches and leaves remain unchanged. Furthermore, woodcutters in Tonglu saw a snake transforming into a pheasant; the head and neck were formed, but the body remained that of a snake. Thus, one knows that bamboo transforms into snakes, and snakes transform into pheasants). Snakes can ride clouds... Eyes round (from *Shuyi Ji*. Large snakes swallow deer (detailed in this entry); Xuan She [black snake] swallows Lu [large deer] (from *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, presented by Persia. Resembles a mouse... Mouse... said: Once saw a black snake over ten zhang long. A wild wolf bit the snake's head and dragged it away; they mutually fear and submit). Old farmers (*Qia Wen Ji* says: Large toads are named Tianfu [Field Father]; when seeing a snake, they bite its... it is finished). Snakes command leopards to stop, yet there are Tapirs that eat snakes (*...and iron*). Turtles and snakes share similar qi, yet there are creatures that eat snakes... also), Maggots delight in belts (from *Zhuangzi*). ...eats its brain and eyes. Toads eat maggots, maggots eat snakes, and snakes eat toads... The snake opens its mouth, allowing them into its belly to eat). When the Zhen bird steps, snakes emerge; stones turn themselves, taking snakes to eat; once the snake enters the mouth... Animals that eat snakes (Snake Eagles, Snake Harriers. See other entries); Tigers, monkeys, muntjacs, musk deer, and cattle are all beasts that eat snakes (Monkeys eat snakes. Cattle eating snakes results in toxic solitary liver). The insects eaten by snakes include frogs, mice, swallows, sparrows, bats, and bird chicks. The herbs eaten by snakes include celery, eggplant, Stone Nan, cornelian cherry, and Snake Millet (i.e., Snake Zi [seeds]). Things detested by snakes include lotus..., Snake Net Grass, and goose droppings; also Realgar, Orpiment..., Ram Horns, and centipedes (*Qianjin Fang* says: When entering mountains, wear Realgar and Orpiment from Wudu, or burn ram horns to create smoke, or keep centipedes in tubes, then snakes dare not approach). Accidentally touching lettuce causes blindness (from... Zang Qi said: If a snake has feet, seeing them is inauspicious... Heat it, pour wine on it, place the snake on top, and the feet will be visible). If a snake coils around a person's foot, pouring hot urine or hot water on it causes it to release itself; if a snake enters a human orifice, moxibustion with moxa cones or irritation with pepper powder causes it to exit (Moxa cones applied to the snake's tail, or cutting the tail and stuffing it with pepper powder, causes it to exit). Internal antidotes for snake venom include Realgar, Fritillaria, garlic, Chinese onion, and Xanthium; external treatments for snakebites include Isatis root, Chrysanthemum indicum leaf, Aconite poison, Turmeric, dried ginger, Alum, black soybean leaves, Vitex trifolia leaves, Ophiopogon japonicus herb, dog feces, goose feces, and Cai Juji...